Unsettled offensive line faces tough task in opener

There are some players in the NFL who can describe in great detail what they see on tape. Cowboys left guard Nate Livings apparently isn’t one of them.

Take, for instance, Livings’ response when asked about the Giants’ defensive line.

“They just have a good front,” he said. “I’m not big into names or numbers or all that other stuff. They play good together, they won the Super Bowl and they were (third in the league in sacks), so your answer is right there.”

While Livings’ assessment is short on details, it’s long on truth. And here’s another fact: The Cowboys’ five starters up front have yet to play a game together, which doesn’t bode well for them holding their own against the Giants’ fierce defensive front Wednesday night.

Lacking cohesion because of injuries, the line is attempting to gain chemistry in limited practice time.

“It’s getting better every day,” said right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, who missed the offseason and much of camp after hip and knee surgeries. “There’s been a lot of reps. I’m just glad to have (center) Phil Costa back.”

Bernadeau and Livings, who missed time in camp with a hamstring injury, were signed in free agency after stints with Carolina and Cincinnati, respectively. A back injury kept Costa sidelined until the preseason finale.

The tackles – Tyron Smith on the left and Doug Free on the right – stayed healthy, but they’re still getting used to their spots after switching sides in the offseason.

For an offensive line, entering any game without time to jell is tough. But Dallas has to do it against a defense that registered 48 sacks last season, including 16.5 by Pro Bowl end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had a combined 3.0 in the sweep of Dallas.

“It’s just the reality of the situation,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We all hope they’re going to get more ready as the season goes on.”

Giants coach Tom Coughlin isn’t shedding any tears for Garrett.

“It’s true they haven’t had a lot of time together,” he said. “I’m sure they’d like to have it the other way. But if you look around the league, that’s the way a lot of us have been in this preseason. It’s very difficult to get your offensive line together.”

In addition to Pierre-Paul, the Giants boast end Osi Umenyiora, who had 9.0 sacks in 2011. End Justin Tuck and linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka combined for 8.5.

“They have a lot of guys they can throw at you with great bursts, great energy,” Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said Sunday. “And each one is unique in the way he rushes the quarterback.”

And, unlike Livings and Co., they’ve played together for a while.

“Look,” Livings said, “we don’t focus on time we haven’t had together. We focus on the time we have had together. Whether it’s five, 10 minutes, 15 hours, the time we have together is the time we have together. It’s just about getting the job done.”